logo
Jesse Belle Deutschendorf and Zachary John Denver | Source: Getty Images
Jesse Belle Deutschendorf and Zachary John Denver | Source: Getty Images

Zachary John Denver: Facts about the Life of John Denver's Only Son

Christell Fatima M. Tudtud
Jul 08, 2023
04:15 A.M.

Zachary John Denver is country singer John Denver's only son. While he may not have achieved the same fame as John, Zachary has undoubtedly gained attention in the years since his dad's death.

Advertisement

While country superstar John Denver achieved great financial success through his music, his true treasure was his three children, one of whom is his only son, Zachary John Denver.

Despite growing up in the spotlight, Zachary has largely maintained a private life. More than two decades after his father's passing, many people wonder how he is doing.

John Denver in Bracciano, Italy in 1986. | Source: Getty Images

John Denver in Bracciano, Italy in 1986. | Source: Getty Images

Zachary John Denver Grew up in Aspen

Zachary John Denver is the adopted son of John and his first wife, Annie Martell. The Denvers decided to adopt after learning that John could not father children due to his acknowledged sterility.

Zachary's exact birth date is unknown, but he is of North American Indian descent, one-quarter Cherokee. Despite not being biologically related, John and Annie wholeheartedly embraced him as their child.

Advertisement

When Zachary was just a baby, John fondly talked about him. In 1975, John said he would return to his home in Aspen and rise at dawn to spend quality time with his son. He added:

"I like getting up when he gets up and feeding him and playing with him in the morning before everybody else gets up."

Zachary seemed indifferent to his father's fame. In 1979, John recalled an incident during a limousine ride to one of his music events. The boy gazed at the crowd and innocently asked his parents if the people had gathered to hear "some guy's dad sing."

Advertisement
John Denver and Annie Martell attend the Opening Night Exhibitions of John Denver's Photographs and David Armstrong's Paintings at Hammer Galleries on December 1, 1980, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

John Denver and Annie Martell attend the Opening Night Exhibitions of John Denver's Photographs and David Armstrong's Paintings at Hammer Galleries on December 1, 1980, in New York City. | Source: Getty Images

The boy's curiosity touched John deeply, making him feel sentimental about fatherhood. He said being remembered as their father would be enough for him when he passes away.

Zachary frequently goes by his late father's actual surname, Deutschendorf, instead of his father's on-screen name.

Zachary's parents reportedly split in 1982. However, despite their divorce, John had occasionally visited Zachary and his sister, Anna Kate, in Aspen. Anna Kate is also the former pair's adopted daughter of Japanese-American descent.

Advertisement

Zachary John Denver and His Sister Fought for Family in Legal Dispute

Zachary John Denver emerged as a protective figure within his family following the tragic death of his father in 1997. The devastating incident occurred after his father, piloting an experimental plane, crashed into Monterey Bay.

Five years later, the IRS reportedly demanded $1.5 million from John's estate. The late singer's estate was worth $19 million, and the IRS claimed that the estate was undervalued by $2.5 million.

However, in 2003, he won the dispute with the help of Anna Kate. The U.S. Tax Court records stated John's heirs were reportedly eligible for a federal tax refund of $594,674 instead of paying the demanded amount.

Jesse Belle Deutschendorf and Zachary John Denver, John Denver's children attend the ceremony honoring their father, John Denver with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on October 24, 2014, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Jesse Belle Deutschendorf and Zachary John Denver, John Denver's children attend the ceremony honoring their father, John Denver with a Star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame held on October 24, 2014, in Hollywood, California. | Source: Getty Images

Advertisement

Zachary John Denver Seems to Have Opted for a Private Life

The way the musician's son navigates his life after his father's death remains uncertain, as he seldom appears in the spotlight. In 2013, he appeared in John's documentary "John Denver: Country Boy."

Zachary frequently goes by his late father's actual surname, Deutschendorf, instead of his father's on-screen name. His sister, Anna Kate, also follows suit and uses the same surname.

In 2014, Zachary attended the ceremony honoring his father, John Denver, with a star on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. He was accompanied by his other sister, Jesse Belle Deutschendorf, John's daughter from his second marriage.

Advertisement

Four years later, in 2018, Zachary was spotted at another event hosted by the non-profit organization Take Note Colorado, where he engaged with the press, discussing the importance of music in a holistic approach to the state's youth.

Like Zachary, there are also children of celebrities seldom seen in public. Similarly, Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso opted to keep their four daughters off the spotlight.

Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively also made the same approach with their four kids. Additionally, Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendez, who have two children of their own, have chosen to shield their kids from the spotlight.

Advertisement
Advertisement
Related posts

Olympic Week in 5 Viral Headlines: Ryan Gosling's 'Irritating' Outing, Noah Lyles' Debated Win, Thomas Ceccon Sleeping Outside, & More

August 09, 2024

Katie Holmes' Daughter, Suri, 18, Seen in Patterned Corset Dress with Handsome Prom Date: Photos

June 20, 2024

8 Celebrity Duos You Can’t Imagine Are Relatives – Who Are They?

June 05, 2024

'Weird Name': Ryan Reynolds Officially Reveals Name of His & Blake Lively's 4th Child, Sparking More Questions

July 25, 2024

5 TV & Movie Couples You'll Never Know Had Bad Relationships in Real Life – Who Are They?

August 05, 2024

How 9 Celebrities Would Look If They Conformed to the Golden Ratio – Photos

May 06, 2024

Fans Amazed by Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds' Daughters Having 'Momma's Face' as They Finally Appear in Public

May 31, 2024

My Son Stays Quiet as His Wife Insults Me — But He Soon Teaches Her a Lesson in Front of Guests

May 02, 2024

6 Celebrity Children Who Ditched Names They Are Known For — From Malia Obama to Suri Cruise

May 30, 2024

5 Highlights from 'Deadpool & Wolverine' Premiere: Blake Lively's 'Orange' Legs, NSYNC Reunion, Gigi Hadid's 'Third Wheeling,' and More

July 24, 2024

John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette Died 25 Years Ago – Inside Their Tense Final Days

July 26, 2024

Users Claim Serena Williams 'Deserves' Being Denied Access to Paris Restaurant — 8 of the Biggest Scandals of the 2024 Olympics

August 16, 2024

8 Famous Celebrities Whose Children’s Faces You've Hardly Ever Seen – Photos

July 15, 2024

'How Romantic': Suri Cruise, 18, Kisses Her Musician Boyfriend after School Prom

June 21, 2024